ICYMI: Everything That Went Down In ONE Championship In January 2023
For the world’s largest martial arts organization, 2023 is off to a frenetic start.
It’s been an exceptionally busy month for ONE Championship, as the promotion crowned a brand new kickboxing king, held the first of many shows at an iconic venue, and made a couple of major bout announcements for a historic event in the United States.
That’s a lot to follow. So, to keep the global fan base up-to-date with all the recent happenings, here’s a quick recap of everything that went down in January 2023.
Allazov Dethrones Superbon At ONE Fight Night 6
ONE’s first show of the year was headlined by a highly anticipated kickboxing match that was 10 months in the making. Thrilling for as long as it lasted, that bout lived up to its lofty expectations.
In the main event of ONE Fight Night 6 on January 13, Superbon Singha Mawynn – who was widely regarded as the planet’s top pound-for-pound striker – put his ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship on the line against surging Azerbaijani-Belarusian contender Chingiz Allazov.
After a competitive opening stanza, “Chinga” ripped apart the defending titleholder. He knocked the Thai superstar down three consecutive times to earn a second-round TKO victory and the golden belt.
With the win, Allazov now sits atop the most talent-rich division in combat sports and can look forward to a murderers’ row of potential World Title challengers.
The Launch Of ONE Friday Fights At Lumpinee Boxing Stadium
Just a week after that show, ONE made its debut at the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Long considered the breeding ground for the world’s best Muay Thai fighters, the venue will play host to a weekly event series called ONE Friday Fights (or, as it is known in Thailand, ONE Lumpinee).
The inaugural event, held on January 20, showcased the best of the best in striking. In the headline attraction, longtime ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao successfully defended his gold against dangerous Russian striker Alaverdi Ramazanov in an early contender for fight of the year.
Seven days later at ONE Friday Fights 2, Thai knockout artist Kulabdam Sor. Jor. Piek Uthai scored his second win over his compatriot Sangmanee PK.Saenchai in an electrifying rematch of the rivals’ August 2020 showdown.
Tickets Go On Sale For ONE’s First U.S. Event On May 5
Late last year, the organization announced plans to hold its first-ever event on U.S. soil.
Headlined by an epic World Title trilogy bout between ONE Flyweight World Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson and former titleholder Adriano Moraes, ONE Fight Night 10 goes down live at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colorado, on May 5.
With its colossal main event and the still-developing lineup of big-name fights, ONE’s historic debut in North America has excited fans all across the planet.
To that end, tickets and special VIP packages are now on sale, and they are going very quickly.
More Bouts Announced For ONE Fight Night 10 In Colorado
In addition to that blockbuster main event, ONE’s debut on U.S. soil will include two beloved athletes back in action.
Earlier this month, the organization announced the return of American MMA phenom “Super” Sage Northcutt. Competing for the first time in four years, the 26-year-old megastar will square off against Pakistani lightweight standout Ahmed Mujtaba in a bout that’s sure to deliver fireworks.
Also, former ONE Atomweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion Stamp Fairtex will battle ultra-talented American Alyse “Lil’ Savage” Anderson in a critical atomweight MMA contest that could propel either woman toward a coveted World Title shot.
Both of these showdowns are set for ONE Fight Night 10 and only represent a fraction of the matches that will eventually populate the card.
